Summary: The strategic allocation of cyclically calling vessels for
multi-terminal container operators
M.P.M. Hendriks
, D. Armbruster,
, M. Laumanns
, E. Lefeber
, J.T. Udding
Abstract
We consider a terminal operator, who provides his logistics services of container handling
at multiple terminals within the same port. In this setting, the well-known berth allocation
problem can no longer be considered per terminal for two main reasons: i) vessel calls should
be spread over the various terminals to avoid peaks and troughs in quay crane utilizations,
ii) an allocation of two connecting vessels to different terminals will generate inter-terminal
container transport, whose costs should be taken into account. In this paper, we address the
problem of spreading a set of cyclically calling vessel lines over the different terminals and
allocating a berthing and departure time to each of them. The objectives are to i) balance
the quay crane workload over the terminals and over time, and ii) minimize the amount of
inter-terminal container transport. A two-step solution approach is developed, which enables
us to solve real-life instances within satisfactory time. Additionally, a case study is performed
for the terminal operator PSA HNN, who operates multiple terminals in the port of Antwerp,